By: Sandipan Bose
Backing the off-form cricketers to go out there and express themselves made Ravi Shastri acceptable in the Indian dressing room during his tenure as team director. Shikhar Dhawan, is one such player who enjoyed the support of Shastri at the time of adversity.
Now that Shastri isn’t at the helm of affairs and Anil Kumble is the new head coach who could be equally good or even better in terms of handling inconsistent forms, Dhawan still may have to continue scoring in the West Indies Test series to keep his place intact in the playing XI.
With KL Rahul already waiting in the wings to share the opening slot with Murali Vijay, Dhawan can’t afford to be sloppy. Against the West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI at Warner Park in St Kitts, the Delhi batsmen started his tour in a very spirited fashion and did all right things.
Left-hander Dhawan made a 51 off 90 ball with seven hits to the fence. He retired out from the crease to enable the other batsmen to get used to the conditions. But Dhawan would have to keep performing like this, no matter what.
Yes, Shikhar Dhawan must be encouraged by the fact that his Test captain and state-mate Virat Kohli still backs him to the hilt. Not that he would be dropped after one Test failure. Not that he won’t be getting the backing of the team management. But there is competition in the team.
Seeing the way, Rahul has batted in recent days, even the management would be tempted to test him. If wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha (scored 22 off 45 balls in practice game) fails to evolve as an allrounder.
That is because the Karnataka star can also bat down the order and can also keep the wickets if asked to do so. So, not for once, Dhawan could take his place for granted like Saha. There will be pressure on them from Day One.
